ANZAC Connections: Centenary digitisation project
The Australian War Memorial is currently undertaking a project to create a comprehensive digital archive of the ANZACs and their deeds, and of the wider Australian experience of war. The collections are selected from our extensive archives and reflect the experiences of Australian servicemen, nurses and civilians during the First World War, not just well-known personalities. This project will digitally preserve the Memorial’s collections as well as provide full copies for research on the Memorial’s website.
As part of this project the Memorial is seeking contact with relatives of the persons listed below. If you have any further information about these people, or their descendants, the Memorial would love to talk to you. Please contact Daniel McGlinchey via PubandDig@awm.gov.au.
27163 Gunner John Stanley Bannon and 27164 Driver Nicholas Bannon MM
Collection relating to the First World War service of brothers 27163 Gunner John Stanley Bannon, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade and 27164 Driver Nicholas Bannon MM, 6th Field Artillery Brigade. The collection includes biographical information on the brothers prepared by the Australian War Memorial, a typed copy of a letter by the brother's father Mr J. P. Bannon and typed extracts of letters from the Bannon brothers to the Bannon family in Dublin, Ireland. John S. Bannon was killed in France on 7 August 1918. The associated Embarkation Roll for the brothers lists the next of kin as their mother, Mrs E. Bannon, Anna Cottage, Upper Clanbrazil-Street (correct spelling Clanbrassil), Dublin, Ireland. Collection number: 1DRL/0087.
337 Sergeant Hugh Barr MM
Collection relating to the First World War service of 337, Sergeant Hugh Barr MM, 44th Battalion. Collection includes letters written by Barr to his mother Mrs M. Barr, Ireland, relating to the award of Military Medal to Barr and condolence letters relating to Barr's death in action on the Western Front, 13 October 1917. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as his mother, Margaret Barr, 1 Balneum Terrace, Larne Harbour, Ireland. Barr’s service record holds information of his cousin, Jessie Lane, 27 Henry Street, Fremantle WA. Collection number: 1DRL/0092.
2880 Lance Corporal John Shakespeare Bartley
Collection relating to the First World War service of 2880, Lance Corporal John Shakespeare Bartley, 30th Battalion. Collection contains memoirs and souvenirs of service bound into album. Typed carbon copy of memoirs written after Bartley's return to Australia and prior to 1927. Original souvenirs and documents are pasted to memoir pages. The associated Embarkation Roll for Bartley lists his next of kin his mother, Mrs Pricilla Ann Bartley, “Stratford,” Vaucluse road, Vaucluse, Sydney, NSW. Collection number: 1DRL/0100.
Major Garnet Ingamells Adcock
Collection relating to the First World War service of Major Garnet I. Adcock, 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company. The collection consists of detailed descriptions his of service in the trenches in France, covering the period 1916-1919. Included are details of Adcock's marriage to Belgian Marguerite Marie Van Collie in 1918. The associated Embarkation Roll for Adcock lists his next of kin as his farther, G. H. Adcock, Viticultural College, Rutherglen, VIC. Collection number: 2DRL/0123.
37865 Gunner Keith Shadforth Sheen Dowling
Collection relating to the First World War service of 37865 Gunner Keith Shadforth Sheen Dowling, 7th Field Artillery Brigade. The collection consists of two letters written to his mother. One dated 30 September 1918, contains information about movements and the other, written 11 November of the same year, while Dowling heard news of signing of the Armistice. The associated Embarkation Roll for Dowling lists his next of kin as his father, Neville Dowling, “Ashford,” Sydney Street, Chatswood, Sydney, NSW. Collection number: 2DRL/0259.
Captain Robert Cuthbert Grieve VC
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain Robert Cuthbert Grieve VC, 37th Battalion. Collection consists of a typescript account of the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917 in which Grieve won the Victoria Cross. It describes the preparation in the preceding weeks and the battle itself. Included is a photocopy of a sketch map of the sector in which Grieve and the 37th Battalion fought. The associated Embarkation Roll for Grieve lists his next of kin as his mother, Mrs Annie Grieve, “Erne Lodge,” 254 Bay Street, Brighton, VIC. Collection number: 2DRL/0260.
Captain Henry Stanley Davis
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain Henry Davis, 46th Battalion. Collection consists of detailed letters home describing the bravery of stretcher bearers and soldiers. Other themes include artillery bombardment and the ruins of Pozieres and one letter regarding Davis' death in action at Bullecourt on 11 April 1917. The diary covers Davis’ service from embarkation in October 1915 up to when he was killed. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as his mother, Mrs E.E. Davis, “Craig-Elvin”, 20 Shannon Avenue, Newtown, Geelong, VIC. Collection number: 2DRL/0547
3470 Corporal Arthur G. Thomas
Collection relating to the First World War service of 3470 Corporal Arthur G. Thomas, 6th Battalion. Collection consists of typescript copies of letters home, a photocopy of Thomas’ diary with regular entries for 1916-1917 and a notebook on his war experiences. Thomas was killed in action on 8 June 1918 near Strazeele, just east of Hazebrouck, northern France. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as his brother, Mr Frederick William Thomas, 52 Kellett Street, Kings Cross, Sydney, NSW. His sister is also listed, Miss L.C. Thomas, “Moolawa” Irving Road, Toorak, Melbourne, VIC. Collection number: 3DRL/2206
Hans Heinz Harmes-Emden
An account by a former crew member of SMS Emden regarding the battle in November 1914 with HMAS Sydney and the subsequent scuttling of the Emden at the Cocos Islands. The last known address for Harmes-Emden is Hamburge-Bergstedt, KIRCHENHEIDE 31, Germany. Collection number: MSS122
250 Private James Hodgen
Collection relating to the First World War service of 250 Private James Hodgen, 5th Machine Gun Battalion. The collection includes a letter describing the attack on Villers Bretonneux, April 1918, a postcard and a later letter forwarded from the Australian War Memorial to the donor. The associated Embarkation Roll for Hodgen lists as his next of kin his father, James Hodgen, Brackley, Herbert Street, Rockdale, NSW. Collection number: PR83/016
1295 Driver John Henry Llewellyn Turnbull
Collection relating to the First World War service of 1295 Driver John Henry Llewellyn Turnbull, 8th Battalion. The collection consists of Turnbull's 6 diaries, transcribed by hand after the war and includes hand drawn maps and newspaper clippings. It describes his service on Gallipoli, including the landing and evacuation, his work as mule train driver supplying munitions on Somme and Passchendaele battlefields. A studio photograph of Turnbull is at the back of his third diary. The associated Embarkation Roll for Turnbull lists as his next of kin his father, James Turnbull, Daisy Street, Newtown, Geelong, VIC. Collection number: PR91/015
2430 Private Wilfred Denver Gallwey
Collection relating to the First World War service of 2430 Private Wilfred Denver Gallwey, 15th and 47th Battalions. The collection consists of extensive and detailed letters home from England and France. The associated Embarkation Roll for Gallwey lists as his next of kin his father, William Joseph Gallwey of, Dawson Road, Rockhampton, QLD. Collection number: 2DRL/0785
2715 Leading Signalman Stanley Alfred Gedling
Papers of Leading Signalman Stanley Alfred Gedling created during his service with the Royal Australian Navy during the First World War. Gedling kept a diary covering the period 1913-1918 while on the HMAS Melbourne. Other items in the collection include service papers, photographs and a certificate relating to Gedling's visit to the American Fleet in Melbourne 1908, with his Ballarat Naval Cadet class. His next of kin is listed as Grace Gedling of Ballarat. Collection number: PR02076